Ipanema Brazilian Grill
1225 First Ave • Seattle WA 98101
Final Score: 3 [10 to -10]
Professional Attitude: -2
Quality of Service: +1
Atmosphere: +2
Enjoyment overall: +2
Now I must remind the reader that I am not a qualified food critic, however our group was dining with Mike Odgen, the semi-famous author and owner of a Boston restaurant, as well as being quite an accomplished chef in his own right. He was visiting from Australia and we thought we'd show him a bit of the Seattle flavor. We made a pretty large mistake. Mike had some things to say to the management before we could even get a seat. Let's just say the evening started out on the wrong foot.
We had reservations weeks ago and turned up Saturday night to be told that we would not be seated for 'at least an hour, maybe longer.' Mike just gave me a look and asked if they knew what reservations were. I know his pain. I normally review businesses based upon their ethics. When a business is exceptional, loves their customers, or is too greedy - I'm there to document it. I've been writing through various sources for years ever since I moved to Seattle.
The Ipanema BG or IBG had overbooked by, and I quote: "150 people." That's a pretty serious error to be rather unapologetic for. The staff was pretty surly and seemed nonplussed that we could possibly complain about the situation. Couldn't we just wait a couple of hours for a table to open up?
After about 20 people tag teamed the manager, she relented and pushed together some tables for our group. We got seated in just under an hour. After that we expected some bleak service, but the majority of the wait staff didn't seem to know that there had been a problem. Some of the waiters were clipped, not quite rude, but you know how waiters are when they aren't happy. Most of them were not only nice but fun to talk with.
Ipanema is a buffet, and that probably accounts for the problems with reservations. How does one pull that off? IBG has not got it figured out. I believe that anyone can eat a rather large meal in less than an hour, so I think that people who make reservations should be given just that, an hour. Waiters and managers through all of history know how to get clients to leave after they're done, even if they want to spend ten hours reminiscing.
Other options? Don't take reservations. The IBG was packed full and had no less than 30 people wanting in. I can see how reservations would be tempting. But, first come first served works so well with many other restaurants. My primary concern is neither the food, nor the seating, however.
IBG was initially very unapologetic, but later paid lip service apologies and did not follow through with a rain check or any offer except 'wait an hour.' Once seated, no one came to our table to apologize for the delay. We had to wait a few minutes for a waiter to come by and explain how they run the buffet line. Meat comes to your table if you request it, which we did not know, and otherwise the IBG is vegetarian.
The check was more than 40 minutes in coming AFTER we started asking for it. I can see another factor here in why they're so easily overbooked. They absolutely do not hurry anyone out the door. While this is good for the sated talky types, it bodes ill for those awaiting a table. After we got the check, we noticed that they'd failed to split it as requested. We divided it up ourselves and paid piecemeal, after chasing down the waiter again. You can't just pay up front EVEN THOUGH ITS A BUFFET.
I can't understand the illogical manner in which this business is run. Most buffets have you pay on the way in. It's just easier. Of course, few buffets try to pretend to be a four star restaurant in a downtown location. IBG is just a pretty good buffet, and not much more than that.
Given the mediocre to acceptable food quality of many of the dishes, the few outstanding pieces were quite surprising. The fillet minion was excellent. The strawberries were divine. Most of the rest of the food was 'buffet quality' or worse. We were served completely raw buffalo meat, and undercooked pork. The salmon was bland. Lots of the vegetable dishes were neither cool nor warm.
It's a place where you'll want to pick your food choices fairly carefully. The seating ranged from folding chairs to leather booths, and you can guess where we got to sit. It was very uncomfortable and I was aching to leave by the time we'd finished eating.
On the way out the door, I was glared at so sternly that I went over and gave a moot apology to the headmistress - who seemed to perk up a bit. Why I should apologize to her, I don't know, but I could tell she was having a rough night. I still think that the only reason we were seated is because Mike owns a restaurant and I think they didn't want to blow their reputation in Boston. Mike thinks it's because I grew irritated and let slip that I'm a reviewer. Whatever case may be, none of that should be necessary to get a seat when you have very standard reservations and have come dressed formally to an eatery filled with people wearing sandals and tee shirts, sweats, and all manner of things.
The only thing I did not have on was a black tie, and that's because I hate ties.
Oddly enough, my wife wants to go back to IBG on her birthday, but followed up with a request that it not be on a weekend when they are busy. So, the business isn't horrid, and the food could be better on another night, but overall I am tepid on my desire to revisit the Ipanema Brazilian Grill.
Final Score: 3 [10 to -10]
Professional Attitude: -2
Quality of Service: +1
Atmosphere: +2
Enjoyment overall: +2
Now I must remind the reader that I am not a qualified food critic, however our group was dining with Mike Odgen, the semi-famous author and owner of a Boston restaurant, as well as being quite an accomplished chef in his own right. He was visiting from Australia and we thought we'd show him a bit of the Seattle flavor. We made a pretty large mistake. Mike had some things to say to the management before we could even get a seat. Let's just say the evening started out on the wrong foot.
We had reservations weeks ago and turned up Saturday night to be told that we would not be seated for 'at least an hour, maybe longer.' Mike just gave me a look and asked if they knew what reservations were. I know his pain. I normally review businesses based upon their ethics. When a business is exceptional, loves their customers, or is too greedy - I'm there to document it. I've been writing through various sources for years ever since I moved to Seattle.
The Ipanema BG or IBG had overbooked by, and I quote: "150 people." That's a pretty serious error to be rather unapologetic for. The staff was pretty surly and seemed nonplussed that we could possibly complain about the situation. Couldn't we just wait a couple of hours for a table to open up?
After about 20 people tag teamed the manager, she relented and pushed together some tables for our group. We got seated in just under an hour. After that we expected some bleak service, but the majority of the wait staff didn't seem to know that there had been a problem. Some of the waiters were clipped, not quite rude, but you know how waiters are when they aren't happy. Most of them were not only nice but fun to talk with.
Ipanema is a buffet, and that probably accounts for the problems with reservations. How does one pull that off? IBG has not got it figured out. I believe that anyone can eat a rather large meal in less than an hour, so I think that people who make reservations should be given just that, an hour. Waiters and managers through all of history know how to get clients to leave after they're done, even if they want to spend ten hours reminiscing.
Other options? Don't take reservations. The IBG was packed full and had no less than 30 people wanting in. I can see how reservations would be tempting. But, first come first served works so well with many other restaurants. My primary concern is neither the food, nor the seating, however.
IBG was initially very unapologetic, but later paid lip service apologies and did not follow through with a rain check or any offer except 'wait an hour.' Once seated, no one came to our table to apologize for the delay. We had to wait a few minutes for a waiter to come by and explain how they run the buffet line. Meat comes to your table if you request it, which we did not know, and otherwise the IBG is vegetarian.
The check was more than 40 minutes in coming AFTER we started asking for it. I can see another factor here in why they're so easily overbooked. They absolutely do not hurry anyone out the door. While this is good for the sated talky types, it bodes ill for those awaiting a table. After we got the check, we noticed that they'd failed to split it as requested. We divided it up ourselves and paid piecemeal, after chasing down the waiter again. You can't just pay up front EVEN THOUGH ITS A BUFFET.
I can't understand the illogical manner in which this business is run. Most buffets have you pay on the way in. It's just easier. Of course, few buffets try to pretend to be a four star restaurant in a downtown location. IBG is just a pretty good buffet, and not much more than that.
Given the mediocre to acceptable food quality of many of the dishes, the few outstanding pieces were quite surprising. The fillet minion was excellent. The strawberries were divine. Most of the rest of the food was 'buffet quality' or worse. We were served completely raw buffalo meat, and undercooked pork. The salmon was bland. Lots of the vegetable dishes were neither cool nor warm.
It's a place where you'll want to pick your food choices fairly carefully. The seating ranged from folding chairs to leather booths, and you can guess where we got to sit. It was very uncomfortable and I was aching to leave by the time we'd finished eating.
On the way out the door, I was glared at so sternly that I went over and gave a moot apology to the headmistress - who seemed to perk up a bit. Why I should apologize to her, I don't know, but I could tell she was having a rough night. I still think that the only reason we were seated is because Mike owns a restaurant and I think they didn't want to blow their reputation in Boston. Mike thinks it's because I grew irritated and let slip that I'm a reviewer. Whatever case may be, none of that should be necessary to get a seat when you have very standard reservations and have come dressed formally to an eatery filled with people wearing sandals and tee shirts, sweats, and all manner of things.
The only thing I did not have on was a black tie, and that's because I hate ties.
Oddly enough, my wife wants to go back to IBG on her birthday, but followed up with a request that it not be on a weekend when they are busy. So, the business isn't horrid, and the food could be better on another night, but overall I am tepid on my desire to revisit the Ipanema Brazilian Grill.
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